I've seen quite a few, what look like, Sugar Gums in flower - along with that I'm seeing huge swarms of insects hanging off the flowers too - I'm assuming they're pinching the liquid gold! does anyone know what they are? and, other than pinching the nectar, do they stop the bees from foraging on that nectar source?

There is an article in the Sunday Herald Sun today 13/01/13 that talks about these being in plague proportions this year and says that the adults DO eat pollen and nectar. That might explain why I'm having such a lean year this year; nearly mid summer and I haven't had a harvest yet. Another bloke I know with hives a couple of K's away says it's the worst year he can remember around here.

There is an article in the Sunday Herald Sun today 13/01/13 that talks about these being in plague proportions this year and says that the adults DO eat pollen and nectar. That might explain why I'm having such a lean year this year; nearly mid summer and I haven't had a harvest yet. Another bloke I know with hives a couple of K's away says it's the worst year he can remember around here.

were bad around here too they tend to clump up on the ground and on branches i made up some pyrethum spray and killed thousands, think there were some small amount of bee casualty's but not many i was careful not to spray the bees if i could help it, the bugs drop immediately so i was able to hose down the branches and get rid of residue quickly. its just a small drop in the ocean but i think it helped a bit around here theres not so many now.